The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-03-12
AN AMERICAN LORD.
Baron Stiegers Splendid Castle at
Shaefferstown, Pa.
Going Through Great Fortune-Festivities
That Always Marked HIS Arrival ut
Thurm-Berg-Died an Obscure
Schoolmaster.

in the south of Lebanon County, Pa,
with no special significance attaching
to it. Nature has, however, surrounded
it with beauteous outlines of landscape,
and it nestles among hills, high and
low, as if it aspired to nothing more
than the sweet amenities of seclusion.
It was originally settled by German
Jews. In the first years of the eigh-
teenth century they came here and. as
if by some prearranged understanding
of its great natural beauty and fitting
advantages, they built themselves
homes in the valley and became a COM
munity of most peculiar people. The
accessions to this settlement became
numerous, until it had gained the repu-
tation far and wide of being the most
unique and clannish colony that had
found a home in this land. The syna-
goguc that they built, and the para
phernalia of their imported rabbi, be-
came great attraction to the outside
settlers, who often ventured into the
worship of their Sabbath Day. In the
year 1882 they already had constructed
a graveyard, built in with heavy and
substantial stone wall. The remains of
it are pointed out to-day. About one
half mile south of Shaefferstown, close
to the Lancaster road, it rests in a half
preserved but neglected state. The
most adhesive cement and most expert
masonry evidently were used, for the
wintry blasts of more than one hun
bred and fifty years have not quite de-
stroyed this relic.
But sudden and extraordinary as was
the advent of this people, SO was their
departure. 1t was almost like dream
of single night. As between sunrise
and sunset the new town was deserted
and no vestige of Israel remained save
the dead that lay on the hill. Then
Germans of another faith came--Luthe-
rams and German Reformed, among
whom was one Shaeffer, who, through
influence and wealth, became the pro-
prietor of the place, and also became
the father of the little town. In 1745 ii
had no less than one hundred unassum-
ing little houses, several stores and
taverns, and in 1865 a bell Of the Protest
ant faith rung out above stone church
whose tolling has never ceased.
But another more interesting histori-
cal fact gives dignity to the surround.
ings of this place. There is lofty hill
that frowns with its grim heights upon
the little village from the south 1t is
styled the "Thurm- Berg" or Tower
Hill. On that lofty eminence certain
William Henry Stiegel had erected 4
tower, or castle, and certain phases o
its ruins can be noticed this day. Thert
are those living who have a very cor
rect representation Of the odd structure
given them by former generations, bu
in the absence of better history yer,
fantastic mass of legends concerning it
owner are extant. This German Barol
was, however, a most eccentric man
He was altogether the most notoriou
figure in all that region around, and tn
many lavish and extraordinary expendi
lures in business enterprises and in tn
public qualification Of his whims adver
tised him in the great social and mer
camille centers of the cities. He had
most checkered career. he was
Baron in Europe. In America he ap
parently disrobed himself Of the garb Q
titled gentleman and launched into
busy life, spending money like
prince. He became an iron-master,
glass manufacturer, and even for awhil
assumed the functions of preacher
when later, through the changed vicis
STUDIES of fortune, he acted the school
master. His life. in the full detail Q
all its successes and universities, it prod
galities Of gayety and wealth and it
pinched reverses of sadness and poverty
would make one of the most interesting
romances in print.
Baron Stiegel had two magniicen
palaces, and perhaps three. There
little more known about him in the ira
ditions and histories of Shaeferstow
than belones 70 his tower and to th